St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-21
"THE GREATEST ON EARTH'
Suffers to the Extent of Nearly
a Million Dollars.

BRIDGEPORT, Conn.,, Nov. 20.-The
main building of Barnum c& Bailey'S
greatest show on earth was.entirely de-
strOyed by fire this evening. About
1890 o'clock an alarm was sounded,
alarm, and thousands of people were
drawn to the spot: In less than thirty
minutes the big building, which was
6OOx2UO feet and two stories in height,
was entirely consumed. The first in
timation of the fire was given by the
roaring of the lions and tigers, which
seemed to realize the impending dan
ger. Next the elephants struggled in
their chains, but in an incredibly
short time the flames swept from one
end of the huge structure to the other.
There were six Watchmen employed on
the premises, but they were helpless to
check the flames. One of the men was
in the horse building, when his lantern
exploded, igniting the hay and straw.
Five of the watchmen have reported, but
one is missing. The upper portion of
the building was filled with hay and all
the paraphernalia of the great show.
Before the first alarm ceased sounding
the whole building was enveloped in
fire and no one dared to approach the
building, being fearful of the crazed
animals. Three elephants were burned
up, and thirty-SiX broke from
their fastenings and dashed through the
sides of the burning building. Their
roars and trumpetings and sounds OF
torment were terrific. Six elephants
and large African hippOpotamus
RUSHED ABOUT THE STREETS,
presenting sickening appearance.
Their sides were burned and great
pieces of flesh, foot square, fell OF.
Thirty elephants and one large lion
made their escape and have started OIL
across the country toward Falrleld ana
EastOn. Great alarm has seized agreat
many residents of theWest end and they
have taken refuge within their houses
with windows barred. William New
man, the elephant trainer, is out of
town, and the keeper was not able, IN
tie excitement, to herd the frightened
animals. In the horse room were all the
ring animals, trained stations, ponies,
etc. These were all burned. In the
npper rooms were the tents, poles,
seats. harness, etc., for the entire
show, and these too were destroyed. In
The cat room were the birds, monkeys,
three rhinoceroses, hyenas, tigers, lions
and all the menagerie, which fell prey
10 the flames. So rapid did the flames
leap across the main building that the
firemen made no attempt to save
it, but turned their streams upon the
Charcot buildings and car sheds, which
they succeeded in saving, but the heat
was so intense that this was accom-
plished with the greatest difficulty. The
Total loss is estimated at 100000, upon
which there was 100000 insurance. Be-
fore the buildings went down Barnum'S
agents were busy making arrangements
for obtaining a new lot of attractions to
supply the loss. Mr.. Brothwell, Bar
NUNS Bridgeport agent, stated that the
show building would be rebuilt, but not
in Bridgeport. The great show would
probably 60 to Jersey City, where better
railroad facilities could be had.
A wATCHMAN SLUGGED.
A watchman asserts that while max
ing his rounds he discovered the fire,
and as he did so he started to cry out,
when some unknown person hit
him on the head with a
blunt instrument telling him to
the ground and cutting several severe
gashes in his head. He staggered to
his feet. giving the alarm and enabling
the other watchmen, who were in the
building preparing for bed to
escape. One of the three elephants
burned was the famous sacred white
elephant" The lion which the police
attempted to kill at the time the fire
broke out was afterwards found in a
barn devouring cow which he had
killed. He was shot.